2024 DC Primary Candidates- Ward 7

Below are the responses from the candidates running for the Ward 7 seat in the District's 2024 Primary. The question proceeds each group of responses. Click here to view the responses for At-Large Councilmember and other races.

Candidate Ebbon A. Allen is represented by EA
Candidate Kelvin Brown is represented by KB
Candidate Wendell Felder is represented by WF
Candidate Nate Fleming is represented by NF
Candidate Roscoe Grant Jr. is represented by RGJ
Candidate Villareal "VJ" Johnson II is represented by VJ
Candidate Ebony Payne is represented by EP
Candidate Veda Rasheed is represented by VR
Candidate Denise Reed is represented by DR
Candidate Eboni-Rose Thompson is represented by ERT

Q1: What are your plans to make the District a more livable community for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, alike?
EA - Candidate did not respond

KB - As council member, I will intentionally seek out the best solutions to ensure pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists are safe by:

• Securing additional investments for dedicated travel lanes and traffic calming measures
• Funding the expansion of the DC Circulator and other rapid transit options
• Revamping and reimagine MetroAccess
• Secure funding to repair our streets, roads, sidewalks and bridges
• Adding additional covered, modernized bus shelters

WF - The recent rise in fatalities is unacceptable, and I'm committed to working alongside the Department of Transportation to support Vision Zero and safer streets for all residents. Here's how I plan to make a difference in Ward 7:

• Community Engagement
• Targeted Infrastructure Improvements
• Senior Transportation Support
• Ward 7 Vision Zero Task Force

By working collaboratively with the Ward 7 community, we can make significant progress towards safer streets for everyone in our ward.

NF - Pedestrian fatalities are disproportionately located East of the River. I support traffic calming measures, including high visibility crosswalks. I also support lowering the age for the Senior MedExpress program to 50 years old, which provides free round trip taxi rides to the doctor for seniors with medical conditions. We need new wheelchair ramps installed along bus routes to make it easier for residents with disabilities to ride buses.

RGJ - I plan to enhance pedestrian safety with visible crosswalks, extend public transportation services, implement protected bike lanes, introduce traffic-calming measures in residential areas, and launch public education campaigns on road safety.

VJ - I support vision zero. Speeding is the number 1 reason for traffic accidents. Couple that with impaired driving, distractions and not holding drivers accountable for following rules for safe roads compound the problem. Person over the age of 65 are more likely to die if involved in a vehicle accident and or pedestrian accident. We must do all we can do to protect out golden neighbors. I will invest in more walkable pathways. Public awareness campaigns and stiffer penalties.

EP - I will push for a transportation network that upholds safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and those with disabilities which many seniors have. I will push for senior transportation which is currently handled under the Department of Aging to be in the purview of the Department of Transportation so that seniors are considered at every step of the street design process. I will also make it easier to obtain handicap parking permits for seniors and their caretakers.

VR -

• Invest in infrastructure improvement by prioritizing improvements in sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, signage, etc;
• Strict enforcement of speed limits and educating drivers about the importance of safe driving practices. This could involve targeted campaigns in schools, community centers, and other public spaces; and
• Promote public transportation by working with residents to find gaps in public transportation and invest in expanding and improving our public transit options.

DR - There is always more that can be done to promote safe, independent travel for seniors. There are seniors living alone that just want to pick up a few things from the store and join the world. Many feel unable to step outside and stroll safely. They also fear crime or a ticket if they drive. Improvements will depend on residents and urban planners working together and ultimately nurturing a new level of respect for seniors to have the right of way through out the city.

ERT - My plan includes restoring budget cuts to WMATA; advocating for completion of the Pennsylvania/Minnesota Ave SE improvement project and redesigns of Southern Ave and East Capitol St.; supporting ongoing corridor studies; implementing calming solutions in hazardous intersections; beautifying medians, completing sidewalk safety installations, and renovating bus shelters. I will ensure that bike and bus lanes are an integrated part of design that ensures safety and balances vehicular traffic.


Q2: What policies do you support to protect older District residents and their ability to safely age in a place of their choosing?
EA - Candidate did not respond

KB - As council member, and twelve year housing professional, I will do the following:

Introduce the:

• Senior and Disable Persons Property Tax Exemption Act of 2025 to eliminate property taxes for seniors and disabled persons 65+
• DC Property Tax Sale Exclusive Act of 2025 to provide District residents a 90 day exclusive first right of refusal to purchase tax sale properties
• District Conservatorship Act of 2025 to help remove blighted, rundown properties from our communities

WF - I understand the strong desire of our older residents to age in place within their own homes and communities. Here are some policies I support to make this a safe and realistic possibility for them:

• Affordable Housing and Property Tax Relief
• Home Modification and Safety Programs
• Enhanced In-Home Community Services
• Accessible and Affordable Transportation Options

By implementing these policies, we can empower Ward 7's older residents to age safely and comfortably within their own homes.

NF - We need to end the institutional bias in Medicaid funding that pays for nursing home stays more easily than it pays for home care workers. Individuals who wish to stay in their homes as they age should be able to do so with the assistance of a full-time home care worker if necessary. I also support subsidized long-term care insurance for DC residents. DC residents should be able to purchase long-term care insurance policies on a sliding scale.

RGJ - I support home modification grants, property tax relief for seniors, expanding in-home care services, and ensuring affordable housing developments include senior-friendly units to enable aging in place.

VJ - Protecting the homestead act, reducing, if not eliminated property tax for the aging with criteria, as well as finding alternative ways for them to earn additional income after retirement. Supporting programs like age-friendly DC, DC safe at home, and seabury age in place.

EP - I am in favor of eliminating property taxes for senior citizens so that they can not only remain in their homes but also pass their homes along to their families for future generations to benefit from. I am a big supporter of DC's Safe at Home program which install safety elements such as stair lifts free of charge and will work to increase funding so that maintenance costs are covered.

VR -

• Expand affordable housing options, programs like the Housing Production Trust Fund, increased funding for senior-specific housing developments;
• Invest in more accessible buses and trains, expand paratransit services;
• Expand Medicaid coverage, increase funding for community health centers and other primary care providers, support programs like the District's Healthy Families initiative; and
• Expand funding for meal delivery programs, in-home caregiving assistance, case management services.

DR - I will identify all that is available for the family caregiver who has sacrificed years and careers for their seniors. I will make that endeavor more of an honor to carry out without burnout. Again, there is plenty to assure our Seniors age in place, with the help AARP, D.C. and federal regulations and benefits, I will shed light and expand on what we’ve got and then research more and advocate for what we need.

ERT - More than 10 percent of Ward 7 residents are seniors, and I want them all to feel safe. I support expanding “Senior Villages'' that help residents age in place and connect them to community resources. Villages help seniors get help with things such as grocery shopping, travel to doctor visits, and house chores. I will support more funding for senior wellness centers and DC’s Safe at Home program, which seniors can access to receive in-home preventative adaptations to reduce the risk of falls.


Q3: What is your plan to increase access to stable, affordable, healthy food options, especially in “food deserts” located in Wards 7 and 8?
EA - Candidate did not respond

KB - As council member, I will do the following:

• Secure additional funding for food access grants/tax incentives, co-ops and mobile grocery stores
• Increase funding and availability of public transit to get residents to food sources
• Introduce a DC Virtual Farming Initiative to create innovative urban farming resources for local farmers, e.g. virtual hydroponic farming

WF - Food insecurity is a serious issue in Ward 7, and one I take very seriously. Here are some policies I support to address it:

• Increase access to grocery stores
• Improve SNAP and WIC access
• Invest in public transportation routes that connect to grocery stores
• Support community gardens and urban farms
• Expand healthy corner stores

By working together, we can create a more equitable food system that ensures everyone in Ward 7 has access to healthy and affordable food.

NF - I will work to provide generous tax incentives for grocers to locate their stores in Ward 7. Another major factor influencing the number of grocery stores EOTR is the crime rate. My well researched public safety plan will help make Ward 7 a place where grocery store owners and operators feel comfortable opening stores. Please visit my website at natefordc.com to learn more. I am also open to exploring the Chicago model of placing government-run grocery stores in underserved food deserts.

RGJ - My strategy includes incentivizing grocery stores to open in food deserts, supporting urban agriculture and community gardens, expanding mobile food markets to underserved areas, and launching nutritional education programs.

VJ - I don't subscribe to Ward 7 as a food desert. I am sharing a opt-ed (www.washingtoninformer.com/johnson-stop-calling-east-of-the-river-a-food-desert/). What I do ascribe to is the need for diversity in retail grocery options. We need more density to do this. Currently, because of the pandemic there are plethora of delivery options by every grocery retailer with nominal to no delivery fees. Also the eat, buying and shopping habits of residents need to be examine to find solutions.

EP - I have a large network of over 200 local farmers and in my first year I plan to rapidly expand farmers markets to bring fresh and local produce, eggs, meat, and milk to serve residents at least once a week. I will encourage incentives for developers to use grocery stores as anchors for future housing and support small business owners in the food sector through targeted grants and tax breaks. I will also seek federal assistance if necessary, such as the New Markets Tax Incentive.

VR -

• Support and expand local farmers' markets that accept WIC and SNAP;
• Aggressively expand grocery store incentives to encourage grocers to open stores in our community;
• Promote community gardens by partnering with local organizations and providing funding, technical assistance, and other resources; and
• Subsidize healthy food options at grocery stores and other retailers located in food deserts to make healthy choices more affordable.

DR - I do not believe there are necessarily food deserts, we just don’t have the commercial variety and luxuries that other parts of the city have. I’m not sure our seniors would want to have to afford such. They (we) just want fresh, reliable and cost-friendly staples, produce and varied delicacies. I’d like a deli, a butcher, a farmers’ market. That would require building trust in having businesses willing to come in and the help of my colleagues and a demand for it from my constituents.

ERT - I will prioritize the continuation and enforcement of the East End Grocery Store Incentive Act of 2018, as introduced by Councilmember Gray to deliver the full-service grocery stores in Ward 7.. I will leverage our dollars and provide robust agency oversight to ensure that financial incentives are going to projects that are targeted in Ward 7. Grocery stores and healthy food options are my priority as part of developments such as: Capitol Gateway, Fletcher-Johnson, Reservation 13 and RFK.


Q4: What policies would you put forth to reduce disparities among racial and ethnic groups in accessing affordable, high-quality healthcare?
EA - Candidate did not respond

KB - As council member, I will:

• Partner with local and regional hospital systems to create a community based care network
• Fund a traveling nurse program for senior wellness centers and apartment buildings
• Fund local programs that train and hire health professionals
• Partner will the Dept. of Buildings and DCHD to increase proactive inspections to ensure public housing units are safe and healthy

WF - That 15-year life expectancy gap between Ward 3 and Ward 8 is unacceptable. It highlights the stark racial and economic healthcare disparities across our city. Here are some policies I would champion to address these issues:

• Expand Access to Quality Care
• Address Social Determinants of Health
• Healthcare Equity Initiatives

Together, we can work towards a healthcare system that is truly accessible and equitable for all residents of Ward 7.

NF - More health care providers should be incentivized to locate their offices in Ward 7 because healthcare deserts make it difficult for individuals to access healthcare. In order to fully address disparities in life expectancy and health outcomes, we must pay attention to the social determinants of health. Nutrition, housing, safety, education, and income level are all factors that influence health outcomes.

RGJ - I propose increasing funding for community health centers in underserved areas, promoting telehealth access, investing in healthcare workforce development in Wards 7 and 8, and addressing social determinants of health to reduce disparities.

VJ - I agree. My grandmother suffer from living in zip code 20020. She died in December of 2019 because her general practitioner retired and was bed ridden as a result alzheimers. She was unable to have a Dr visits her because of her zip code. Not being able to acquire her Levothyroxine after it ran out because she was unable to have an updated physical she slipped into a myxedema coma. We need laws that mandate all hopsitals to visit patients regardless of zip codes.

EP - Solving the food desert East of the River will help solve an underlying cause of Ward 7's health disparities. I will work to ensure our transportation network connects residents to the new urgent care facility coming to Fletcher-Johnson. I will also work in conjunction with our universities to expand access to health care services including dental, maternal care, physical therapy, geriatric care, etc. We also need more gyms and exercise classes for seniors at our recreation centers.

VR -

• Expand Medicaid coverage;
• Increase funding for community health centers;
• Support telemedicine initiatives and ensure that all residents have access to this technology; and
• Address implicit bias in healthcare settings and provide training and education for healthcare professionals on recognizing and addressing their own biases, as well as implementing policies that promote cultural competency and diversity within the healthcare workforce.

DR - I’d first promote quarterly health fairs of the area providers. Along with those health fairs will be surveys to gauge how effectiveness. Mental health and well being is a top priority. There must be a comprehensive public/private partnership toward healthy aging that requires public safety, simplicity of use and encouragement campaigns. Emergency plans must include access to major hospitals and urgent care facilities. What’s just getting public contract funding must be weeded out.

ERT - I will work to ensure that agencies and nonprofits can address racial disparities in health care by advocating for them to be fully funded. I will work to build a comprehensive healthcare system East of the River, including urgent care and doctors offices; expand access to mental health and addiction services; increase funding for virtual behavioral and preventative healthcare; and expand career pathways to increase the number of and racial and linguistic diversity of healthcare professionals.